Community colleges

HE 712: The Two-Year College

Components to Include in Research Paper

History – When were the first two-year colleges in the state established? What was the mission

and/or purpose of these early two-year colleges? How has the number of two-year colleges in the

state changed since they were first established? Are two-year colleges in the state affiliated with

any four-year universities in the state? If so, what is the relationship?

Student Demographics – What did the student demographics (i.e. overall enrollment numbers

and enrollment numbers by gender, race, age, SES, part-time vs full-time status, etc.) look like

when two-year colleges were first established in the state? How have demographics changed

over time? How did/do these rates compare to four-year colleges in the state then/now?

Faculty – What did faculty demographics (i.e. age, race, gender, part-time vs full-time status,

educational background, prior experience, etc.) look like when two-year colleges were first

established in the state? How have demographics changed over time? How do these rates

compare to four-year colleges in the state?

Funding – What is the funding formula (i.e. how much from state taxes, local taxes, federal

funding, tuition, etc.) for two-year colleges in the state? Is it a performance-based funding

structure?

Governing Structure – What type of governing system does the state have for its two-year

colleges?

Achievement – What are the rates for retention, matriculation, graduation, transferring among

two-year colleges in the state, transferring from four-year colleges to two-year colleges in the

state, transferring to four-year colleges, etc.?

Comparison to two-year college systems in other states – How do the state’s two-year

colleges compare to other states in terms of enrollment numbers, number of two-year colleges,

faculty and student demographics, funding, matriculation, graduation, and transfer rates, etc.?

(You can compare your state’s figures to national figures. You can also compare your state’s

figures to those from a couple of states in the same region or states with similar two-year college

structures.)

Current Issues – What are some current issues (i.e. funding, enrollment, retention, curriculum

or mission changes, etc.) impacting the state’s two-year colleges? (Think about some of the

issues that we have discussed in class that are affecting two-year colleges overall. For this aspect

of the paper, you should look at recent periodicals from/about the state.)

***You do not necessarily have to address every question under each heading. Just make

sure that you are thoroughly providing enough information to cover each heading. For

your research presentation, you can use charts and graphs to discuss your findings when

appropriate.

Other Components of the Paper

 APA format (worth 10 pts)

 Length of paper (Below or above the page minimum/maximum by a full page or more

will result in a 5pt deduction for each page below or above the minimum/maximum.)

 Organization, spelling, and grammar (worth 10 pts)